The Best Pregnancy-Safe Nail Polishes, Tested and Reviewed

At the top of our list is the Zoya Nail Lacquer, which we chose as the overall best pregnancy-safe nail polish for several reasons. First of all, the application was a breeze. The brush on this bottle is narrow and lightweight, so the polish glides evenly over each nail. It holds a good amount of product, and the consistency was perfect (not too thin or too thick), which is hard to come across. Moreover, the smell isn't as strong as some other pregnancy-safe nail varnish I tested. The polish on my pinkie nail did smudge slightly during the application process, although it wasn't super noticeable, so I didn’t have to reapply.

The Zoya Nail Lacquer is 10-free, making it an ideal choice for moms-to-be. This maternity nail polish comes in hundreds of color options, and I loved the one I tested, which the brand described as a milk chocolate brown. On day three of testing, the color was still vibrant; it didn't dull at all and still looked like it was freshly applied. This rings true with the brand’s website, which says that the polish is guaranteed to last up to 14 days. Even though I only tested this for three, I could definitely see it lasting another week.

It took close to six minutes to remove this polish from one hand, so it wasn’t the quickest compared to others I tested. It also became a bit sticky once acetone was applied, but it came off easily enough when I applied extra pressure. I then used a Q-tip to remove polish from the edges and cuticles. As the second cheapest pregnancy-safe nail polish that I tested, the Zoya Nail Lacquer exceeded my expectations. The application process was super simple, and the color looked shiny for days. I definitely would buy this product in other colors for myself and think it's 100 percent worth its price point!

Quantity: 0.5 fl. oz. | Ingredient list: 10-free | Vegan: No

I typically go to a nail salon to get gel manicures because I find them to be more convenient and quick than at-home manicures. But I found this pregnancy-safe nail varnish from Manicurist to be a total game-changer. It's a very subtle pink, and that sheerness makes it easier to apply because it’s not as messy-looking if you accidentally get some on your nail beds. It was super quick to put on; despite the thin consistency, it was simple to spread evenly across my nails. Better yet, the brush glided over my nails easily. As someone who can be a bit impatient when doing my own nails, I really appreciated how quick and straightforward the application was! I was able to start typing again within 20 minutes of applying and experienced no smudging. It was really smooth and shiny after drying as well, which made it feel like I had just visited the salon.

The Manicurist Green Active Glow is 7-free, vegan and made from 85 percent plant-based ingredients. It comes in a rectangular bottle with a standard brush, which I was a fan of, especially since most other rectangular bottles come with tiny, hard-to-hold caps. The brand describes it as having a rosy, grapefruit-like color and I would definitely say that's true. It was a very sheer pink and wouldn't be something I would usually go for, but I ended up really liking it. It was subtle, simple and low-maintenance; I understand the sheer color may not be for everyone though. The polish comes in several similar hues, and the color's vibrancy and shininess lasted over the course of the six-day testing period. The brand's website also highlights this formula’s nail-strengthening properties. I didn’t notice a huge difference in the strength of my nails after wearing this (although they aren't weak to begin with), but it was a nice break from wearing heavier nail polish or my usual gel manicures.

On my left hand, I tested this polish with a base and top coat. Then, on my right hand, I tested it just by itself as the brand recommends. On the left, it lasted for five days before beginning to peel—and on the right, it began peeling and chipping around day three. However, since it's such a sheer polish, it wasn't super noticeable, and I didn't feel like I needed to reapply it. Moreover, this polish was extremely easy to remove. It took two minutes to remove from both hands; I used just acetone and a paper towel (no Q-tips needed).

This nail polish has a higher price point than some others we tested, but I think it's worth it. Due to the ease of application, the quick drying time and the glowing finish, I would definitely use this more often than any of the others I tested. I especially loved how I could get back to work within 20 minutes of applying. Likewise, in the following hours, I didn't have to worry about it getting smudged when cooking over a hot stove or taking a shower. Those aspects alone made it valuable to me. (With some of the others I tested, I had to keep reapplying and fixing smudges throughout the evening, which ate up a lot of time.) If that’s not all, the Manicurist Green Active Glow seems like an effective dupe of the Dior Nail Glow which is notably more expensive at $31 per bottle. Needless to say, I would highly recommend this low-maintenance nail polish to pregnant women who want a quick, pretty manicure.

Quantity: 0.5 fl. oz. | Ingredient list: 7-free | Vegan: No

If you’re on the hunt for a drugstore pregnancy-safe nail polish, you can’t go wrong with this option from Sally Hansen. I hadn’t used Sally Hansen nail polish in over a decade, and I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Right off the bat, it went on very easily. I was able to complete a full coat in just two swipes, and I didn't have to top up the brush between strokes. The top is a good size to hold and the brush seems a bit wider than the others, which made it simple to evenly coat my nails. The polish had a great consistency, and it also didn't smell as strong as others when applying, which was a big bonus. Even better, when I was cooking dinner a couple of hours after applying this polish it didn't smudge at all, which happened with several of the other ones I tested. I put on two coats but probably could've done just one, thanks to the opaque coverage.

As its name implies, the Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure. Vegan Nail Polish is vegan—plus, it’s also 16-free. At 0.3 fl. oz., the bottle is slightly smaller than other options, but I didn't mind. (To be honest, I don't think I've ever completely finished a nail polish bottle before it expired.) This polish comes in around 24 colors, and I tested the lavender option. The hue looked the same in the bottle as it did on my nails, and I was a fan of the glossy finish. On day three of testing, the polish still looked relatively good. However, the day after I applied it, I sat on my hand when wearing jeans and the denim left an imprint on some of my nails. This was annoying because I'd painted them 24 hours before and I expected them to be completely dry by then. Other than this hiccup, I think it lasted well. There were no signs of chipping, peeling or fading on day four.

Like everything else about this polish, removal was very straightforward. Using acetone and a paper towel, I was able to take it all off in just over two minutes. It was the only nail polish I tested where I didn't need to also use a Q-tip to remove polish from my cuticles and around the edges. The bottom line: I think this Sally Hansen nail polish is definitely worth the price. While I did encounter some smudging, the bright finish and overall easy application made it stand out as one of my favorites during the testing process.

Quantity: 0.3 fl. oz. | Ingredient list: 16-free | Vegan: Yes

Searching for a standout pregnancy-safe nail polish that only needs one coat? Look no further than the Nails Inc. London Plant Power Nail Polish. The terracotta color that I chose was opaque, and the color's vibrancy lasted over the three-day testing period. The medium consistency made it easy to glide the polish over my nails. It seemed to dry more quickly than others I tried, and I didn't run into any smudging issues when applying or shortly afterward, which was a big plus. A couple of hours later, I cooked dinner and showered, and it didn't smudge or get goopy when exposed to hot temperatures and water. One drawback to consider is that the smell was strong. I get headaches quite easily, and this gave me one. That being said, this probably could have been avoided if I painted my nails in a better-ventilated room or outside.

The Nails Inc. London Plant Power Nail Polish is labeled as vegan, cruelty-free and eco-friendly and the packaging reflects this. Unlike typical nail polish bottles, it has a rectangular shape and a recyclable wooden cap. The application brush was small, which made it a bit tricky to hold when applying. That being said, I found that the size made it easier not to get nail polish all over my nail beds; I appreciated this precision! What’s more, it's listed as 21-free, so it offers a very clean ingredient list. After three days, the nail polish began to chip a bit at the top of my middle and ring fingers. However, this wasn't that noticeable, and it could have easily been fixed with a little bit of extra polish and drying time. Moreover, this nail polish also impressed me during the removal process. I used standard acetone and a paper towel and it wiped off each nail with just a couple of swipes. I then used a Q-tip to make sure I got all of the polish off around the edges of my cuticles, and this was super simple, too.

The Nails Inc. London Plant Power Nail Polish is slightly more expensive than others you may find at a drugstore. However, I'd say it's worth it—especially if you're looking for a nail polish that's free from a wide range of potentially harmful ingredients and that's a breeze to apply and remove.

Quantity: 0.5 fl. oz. | Ingredient list: 21-free | Vegan: Yes

Last but definitely not least is our top pick for the best long-lasting maternity nail polish. You can count on the OPI Nature Strong Nail Polish to withstand daily wear and tear while remaining glossy for days on end. This option was relatively easy to put on, though it was a bit runny compared to others I tested. Due to the thin consistency, it was streaky, and I definitely needed two coats. The application brush was pretty standard, and the lightweight top was comfortable to hold. I found it hard to get the right amount of polish onto the brush though (sometimes there was too little and sometimes there was too much), which I find to be the case with thinner nail polishes. Because it was a bit runny, it also pooled along my cuticles, but this excess polish came off when washing my hands later on in the day.

OPI is a standard drugstore nail polish brand, although it has many of the same qualities that you’d find in a luxe or indie brand. This formula is 9-free, cruelty-free and vegan, so it offers more than standard pregnancy-safe options that are 3- or 5-free. I found the application brush to be lightweight and an average size, which was a plus when applying, and I liked the unique color options that OPI offers. I tested their “Bee the Change” hue, and the sunny marigold color was vibrant. Due to the runny consistency, it was a bit sheer—however, this wasn't apparent after it dried. This nail polish didn't chip or peel over the course of testing. After three days, it still looked quite new and shiny.

Removing this nail polish was slightly harder than the others on this list, but it was still a simple process overall. It took around five minutes to remove this varnish from both hands, which is technically quick, however, it became quite goopy, so the process didn't feel as seamless as others. I used a lot of Q-tips to get the remaining streaks around my cuticles. At $12.99, it’s a standard price for nail polish, so I'd say this option is worth it. All in all, this nail polish stood out because of how bright and shiny the finish was. So, if you’re on the hunt for a long-lasting DIY manicure, you can’t go wrong with OPI.

Quantity: 0.5 fl. oz. | Ingredient list: 9-free | Vegan: Yes